「對我來說，完成作品的每個瞬間都很特別，從完成第一件作品到現在，那種奇妙的心情很難去解釋，像有種填滿內心的感覺。」韓國藝術家金官泳（Kim Kwan Young）說，他自小與繪畫一起成長，從不安、不幸福的童年開始喜歡上繪畫。在首爾的弘益大學唸美術系時，偶然看到美國抽象表現主義藝術家Willem de Kooning的書，震撼了他的內心，萌生成為藝術家的想法。「對於從小重視『畫好事物輪廓』的我來說，Willem de Kooning的抽象畫讓我感受到自由和內心的感性，夢想著有一天我也能畫抽象畫，夢想有一天我也能畫出屬於自己的畫。」
金官泳不但擅於在顏色裡表現層次感，他把重疊的厚重顏料與幼細的線條連繫著整幅構圖，帶領觀眾的眼睛遊走畫裡每一個微小的細節。在最新的系列《The Memory of the Unconscious》中，他以繪畫來尋找無意識大腦中失去的記憶碎片，畫中的線就是連繫著各種記憶的線索。看著他的作品，或許能讓人想起一些遺失已久的記憶。「也許是因為大學時專攻金屬工藝，我對在平面繪畫中如何表現浮雕等立體感非常感興趣。但是不知從何時起，開始感到我的作品很沉重，更想純粹地畫出更像畫的作品。因此我只使用塑膠彩和油畫顏料進行創作，希望能充分發揮塑膠彩、油畫顏料和各種材料的特徵，能夠讓人感受到柔軟又舒適的色彩和光線所帶來的質感。」
“Every moment of completing a piece of art holds a special place for me. From my very first piece to the present, it’s hard to put into words that wonderful feeling. It’s like a deep sense of fulfillment in my heart,” said Korean artist Kim Kwan Young. Growing up from a troubled and unhappy childhood, Kim found solace in painting. While studying fine arts at Hongik University in Seoul, he stumbled upon a book by American abstract expressionist artist Willem de Kooning, igniting a profound interest that fueled his aspirations to become an artist. “As someone who valued meticulous and realistic renderings of the world from a young age, de Kooning’s abstract paintings evoked a sense of freedom and a sensitivity within me. I dreamt that one day I could also paint abstract art, and produce my own unique work.”
Despite the warm and gentle aura that exudes from Kim’s paintings, it is hard to imagine that his early work leaned towards darkness and melancholy. Perhaps it is those journeys through low points in life that has bestowed upon him the ability to bring warmth to others and embrace the world around him. “After completing my studies at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Italy, I returned to Korea and got married. It was also when I embarked on my creative journey and started a very tiny studio. Those few years of artistic exploration and also exhibitions yielded no fruits, leaving me very much disheartened and unable to work for a while. The arrival of my child deepened my concerns, and I even contemplated giving up my dreams of being an artist.” Children are like angels to most parents. When Kim locked eyes with his newborn child, all worries and distractions melted away like snowflakes. “It was definitely an unforgettable moment. Since then, I worked even harder, and with some luck, I began to see the results of my hard work. I’d say that my creative journey had undergone a very transformative shift upon returning to Korea from Italy. If those works I created in Italy were composed of loneliness, desolation, and melancholy, the subsequent work I produced in Korea could be considered creative and hopeful with a resolute spirit.
I first stumbled upon Kim’s work at an art fair. It was a bustling, vibrant event; but strangely, as I stood in front of Kim’s paintings, I felt a serene and gentle force subtly transforming the surrounding ambience. His work, with their vibrant colors and complexity, exude a comforting and soothing energy. “When people look at artwork, they often draw their first impression based on the colors, especially when it comes to abstract paintings. That’s why I focus on the choice of colors and experimenting with their various tonalities in my creations. My creative process usually starts with deciding on the colors, followed with color mixing, and eventually paint on the canvas. I often use only one color as the base color to emphasize on the rich and nuanced depth that it can get. To achieve this, it is necessary to repeatedly let the layers of paint dry and then apply more layers. Only when the color reaches a desired depth and richness, I’d paint on it with what’s on my mind. Despite using multiple colors, the overall composition maintains a cohesive tonal harmony.
Kim is not only good at capturing depth within colors but also adept at intertwining thick, layered pigments with delicate lines, creating a cohesive and harmonious composition that guides the viewer’s gaze through every intricate detail of the artwork. In his latest series, The Memory of the Unconscious, Kim utilizes painting to search for fragments of lost memories within the depths of the unconscious mind. The lines in his artwork are the threads that connect various memories, offering clues to their existence. Looking at his work will probably remind viewers of the forgotten moments from the past. “Probably due to my background of metal craftsmanship during my university years, I have always been fascinated by capturing three-dimensional qualities, like relief sculpture, within the confines of a two-dimensional painting. However, at some point, I found my work became overly heavy, and I wanted to create pieces that were more painterly in nature. Therefore, I started to only use acrylic and oil paints in my work, with a wish to fully harness the unique characteristics of these materials and the various textures they offer. I hope that the viewers can feel those gentle and soothing hues and textures that emanate from the interplay of colors and light.”
For Kim, painting is the most primal and pure form of art that connects people. He has also been captivated, moved, and deeply touched by different artwork throughout his journey. “I hope that when people look at my work, they can slow down and take a moment to feel and think. While personal experience may vary, if my artwork can capture their attention, that alone brings me immense satisfaction.”
